Filtration system with automatic drain plug

ABSTRACT

A filtration system includes a housing and a filter element positioned within the housing. The housing includes a first housing end and a second housing end. A drain opening is defined in the second housing end. The filter element includes a first endplate and a second endplate defining an endplate opening. Filter media is positioned between and extending axially between the first endplate and the second endplate. The filter media defines a central opening extending axially therein. A drain plug axially protrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from the filter media. The drain plug is configured to engage the drain opening and facilitate installation of the filter element into the housing. A lid is configured to engage the first housing end. The engagement between the lid and the first housing end occurs when the drain plug is disposed within the drain opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/005,078, filed Jun. 11, 2018. The contents of thisapplication are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The present application relates generally to fuel or lube filtersystems.

BACKGROUND

Internal combustion engines generally combust a mixture of fuel (e.g.,diesel, gasoline, natural gas, etc.) and air. Prior to entering theengine, the fuel is typically passed through a filter element to removeparticulate matter (e.g., dust, metal particles, debris, etc.) from thefuel prior to combustion. Similarly, lubricant or lube (e.g., engineoil) provided to the engine may also be passed through a filter elementso as to remove particulate matter from the lube before communicating tothe engine. The fuel may include water, which may accumulate in thefilter and may have to be removed. The operation of the drain functionsproperly when dirty fluid (e.g., oil or fuel) is prevented from passingto the clean side during servicing. For top load filtration systems, anissue arise during installation of a new filter element as dirty fluidcan travel back with the water to the fuel tanks if 100% of the fluid isdrained from the housing.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to an automatic drainsystem for fuel water separator filter systems. More specifically,embodiments relate to an automatic drain system that includes electronicsensors to automatically drain water from a fuel water separator filtersystem without active involvement of the user.

Various embodiments relate to a filtration system. The filtration systemincludes a housing and a filter element positioned within the housing.The housing includes a first housing end and a second housing end. Adrain opening is defined in the second housing end. The filter elementincludes a first endplate and a second endplate defining an endplateopening. Filter media is positioned between and extending axiallybetween the first endplate and the second endplate. The filter mediadefines a central opening extending axially therein. A drain plugaxially protrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from thefilter media. The drain plug is configured to engage the drain openingand facilitate installation of the filter element into the housing. Alid is configured to engage the first housing end. The engagementbetween the lid and the first housing end occurs when the drain plug isdisposed within the drain opening. Engagement of the lid and the firsthousing end is prevented from occurring when the filter element ispositioned within the housing but the drain plug is not disposed withinthe drain opening

Another example embodiment relates to a filter element. The filterelement includes a first endplate and a second endplate defining anendplate opening. Filter media is positioned between and extendingaxially between the first endplate and the second endplate. The filtermedia defines a central opening extending axially therein. A drain plugaxially protrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from thefilter media. The drain plug is configured to engage the drain openingand facilitate installation of the filter element into the housing. Abaffle is disposed on the second endplate. The baffle protrudes axiallyfrom the second endplate towards the first endplate and the baffleextending radially around a portion of a perimeter of the secondendplate.

Another example embodiment relates to a method of installing a filterelement into a housing. The method begins with providing a housing. Thehousing includes a first housing end, a second housing end and a housingopening between the first housing end and the second housing end, thesecond housing end defining a drain opening. A filter element isprovided. The filter element includes a first endplate and a secondendplate defining an endplate opening. Filter media is positionedbetween and extending axially between the first endplate and the secondendplate. The filter media defines a central opening extending axiallytherein. A drain plug axially protrudes from the second endplate in adirection away from the filter media. The filter element is placedwithin housing opening of the housing. The drain plug is aligned withthe drain opening. The drain plug is inserted within the drain openingsuch that the filter element is fully disposed and installed within thehousing.

These and other features, together with the organization and manner ofoperation thereof, will become apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the several drawingsdescribed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a filtration system with an automatic drainplug in a filter element according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of a housing of the filtrationsystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a portion of a bottom of a filterelement of the filtration system of FIG. 1 according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the filter element of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a top cross-sectional view of the filter element of FIG. 3Ainstalled into the housing of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the filterelement and housing of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a portion of the filter element of thefiltration system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a side view of a portion of a lid of the filtration system ofFIG. 1 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a bottom perspective view of a filter element according toanother example embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of a filter element according toyet another example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a filter element improperlyinstalled into a filtration system according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a method of installing a filter element into the housingaccording to an example embodiment.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings throughout the followingdetailed description. In the drawings, similar symbols typicallyidentify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. Theillustrative implementations described in the detailed description,drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other implementationsmay be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will bereadily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, asgenerally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can bearranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety ofdifferent configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated andmade part of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures generally, a filtration system having anautomatic drain plug provided on a bottom endplate of a filter elementand a complementary drain opening in the housing is described. Theautomatic drain plug is configured for removing dirty fluid (e.g.,unfiltered fuel or oil) accumulated in a filter during the filterelement servicing and to plug the drain opening during operation of thefiltration system. The automatic drain plug can be implemented with awide variety of automatic drain plug lengths and at a wide variety oflocations along the bottom endplate to provide a “poke yoke” of thefilter element in the filtration system. Due to the shape and locationof the automatic drain plug, the housing does not need a special shapeof runway, as the automatic drain plug allows for a simplified drainopening in the housing. The filter element further includes a baffleadjacent to an inlet of the housing that prevents the incoming flow fromdirectly contacting the outside surface of the filter media of thefilter element. The baffle is configured to be positioned from theautomatic drain plug in a way that aligns the baffle with the inlet ofthe housing. Beneficially, the automatic drain plug is configured todrain substantially all of the fuel during servicing in order to preventdirty fuel from going to the clean side. When the filter element isremoved, a dedicated line is configured to facilitate the fuel to returnto the tank. Generally, embodiments of the automatic drain plugdescribed herein may provide benefits including, for example: (1)providing automatic draining of water accumulated in a filter housing ofa filter assembly; (2) preventing atmospheric air from entering thefilter housing; and (3) preventing fuel from escaping a filter housing.

Referring to FIG. 1, a filtration system 100 including a housing 104with an inlet 110 and outlet 112, a filter element 102 disposed withinthe housing 104 (shown as an outline), a lid 106, and a drain 108 areshown, according to an example embodiment. Generally, the filter element102 is keyed to the housing 104 allowing a protrusion (e.g., a drainplug) on the filter element 102 to be received in a drain opening ofhousing 104. Additionally, the drain plug on the filter element 102 iskeyed to the lid 106 such that the lid 106 properly engages the housing104 only if the length of the drain plug is correct in relation to thelength of the engagement thread on the lid 106. As will be appreciated,a proper filter element 102 having the right size and location of thedrain plug will fully engage the drain opening on the housing 104 andallow for the lid 106 to be installed on the housing 104.

The lid 106 includes a radial seal member 152 and a threaded lid member150 configured to engage a complementary threaded housing member 146 onthe first housing end 140 of the housing 104. The radial seal member 152forms a seal between the housing 104 and the lid 106. In someembodiments, the radial seal member 152 may be produced by an O-ring orother resilient seal. In some embodiments, the threaded engagement ofthe threaded lid member 150 and the threaded housing member 146 may beclamped in the desired relative location. The threaded lid member 150can be a wide variety of lengths in order to achieve the desired keying(e.g., poke yoke) feature of the filter element 102. Generally, thefiltration system 100 is configured such that the lid 106 can onlyproperly engage and seal with the housing 104 when the drain plug 126 isproperly disposed in the drain opening 148. Consequently, and asdescribed below in greater detail in FIG. 5B, the length of the threadedlid member 150 is shorter than the length of the drain plug 126 of thefilter element 102.

The housing 104 includes a first housing end 140, a second housing end142, and a housing body 109. The first housing end 140 includes athreaded housing member 146 that is configured to receive acomplementary threaded lid member 150 from the lid 106. The housing body109 includes the inlet 110, the outlet 112, and a central compartment144 that receives the filter element 102. In some embodiments, thehousing 104 may include one or more vents that expose the interior ofthe housing to the outside environment. The vents may be configured suchthat vapor or gas present in the interior of the lower housing may passto the outside environment. The interior of the housing 104 may includean absorbent media. The absorbent media may be any appropriate material,such as sponge or activated carbon. The absorbent media may serve toabsorb fluid drained from the filtration system, such that the fluid mayevaporate through over an extended period of time.

The central compartment 144 of the housing 104 includes a drain opening148 defined in the second housing end 142. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, the second housing end 142 is substantially flat and does notinclude ramp features that provide poke yoke installation assistance.The drain opening 148 is in fluid communication with the drain 108. Asshown in FIG. 2, the housing 104 includes a drain opening 148 that isorientated and sized to receive a complementary drain plug 126 from thefilter element 102. The drain opening 148 allows fluid, such as water,to flow from the filter element 102 to the drain 108. As will beappreciated, if a filter element 102 is installed that has a drain plug126 at a different diameter (e.g., orientation) and/or a wider size thanthe drain opening 148, the filter element 102 will be unable to beproperly installed into the housing 104.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a perspective view and a cross-sectionalview of the filter element 102 that includes the drain plug 126 isshown, according to an example embodiment. The filter element 102includes a first endplate 116, a second endplate 118, and filter media120 disposed between the first endplate 116 and the second endplate 118.The filter element 102 may be a cylindrical filter element withsimilarly shaped components. The filter media 120 is positioned betweenand extending axially between the first endplate 116 and the secondendplate 118. While the filter element 102 in FIG. 3B is shown without acentertube, in some embodiments, the filter element 102 may include acentertube. As will be appreciated, a filter element 102 without acentertube will need to limit the compression force (e.g., installationforce) and, relatedly, the gasket compression along the various gasketsimplemented in the filter element 102.

The filter media 120 defines a central opening that extends axiallytherein and is in fluid communication with the outlet 112. The filtermedia 120 includes an inner clean (e.g., filtered fuel) side and anouter dirty (e.g. unfiltered fuel) side. Accordingly, the filter element102 is an outside-in flow filter element. In an alternative arrangement,the filter element 102 is an inside-out flow filter element having aninner dirty side and an outer clean side. Fluid to be filtered passesfrom the dirty side of the filter media 120 to the clean side of thefilter media 120. The filter media 120 may include any of paper-basedfilter media, fiber-based filter media, foam-based filter media,synthetic filter media, pleated filter media, or the like. Pleatedfilter media refers to filter media 120 that is folded along a pluralityof bend lines extending axially along an axial direction between anupstream inlet and a downstream outlet. In some embodiments, a flatsheet of filter media is alternately folded along a plurality of pleatfold lines, thereby defining a pleat block. The pleated filter media mayinclude a plurality of wall segments extend in serpentine manner betweenthe bend lines and define axial flow channels therebetween.

The first endplate 116 is adjacent to the first housing end 140 and,once installed, the lid 106. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first endplate 116is a closed endplate and the second endplate 118 is an open endplate.The second endplate 118 is substantially flat and is configured toengage a substantially flat housing end when the filter element 102 isinstalled within the housing 104. The second endplate 118 includes afirst end 122 adjacent the filter media 120 and a second end 124disposed axially away from the first end 122 and the filter media 120.The second end 124 includes a seal between the second endplate 118 andthe second housing end 142 causing the filter element 102 to besealingly engaged with the housing 104. The seal 138 between the secondendplate 118 and the second housing end 142 may be produced by an O-ringor other resilient seal and may be overmolded around the opening of thelip on the second endplate 118. A baffle 136 extends axially around aportion of the perimeter from the first end 122 in the direction of thefilter media 120 and is disposed outside of the filter media 120. Asdiscussed in greater detail below, the baffle 136 is located on thesecond endplate 118 such that it is adjacent to the inlet 110 when thefilter element 102 is properly installed in the housing 104. The drainplug 126 extends axially from the second end 124 in a direction awayfrom the filter media 120. As is readily apparent, the filter element102 has a single, “known” orientation when installed into the housing104, as the drain plug 126 can only be installed into the drain opening148 in a single way. Accordingly, the filter element 102 will have thesame orientation when installed into the housing 104. In someembodiments, when the filter element 102 is properly installed withinthe housing 104 (e.g., drain plug 126 disposed within the drain opening148) the second end 124 is adjacent the second housing end 142.

The baffle 136 is configured to be adjacent to the inlet 110 such thatthe baffle 136 is disposed between the inlet 110 and the filter media120. The baffle 136 is an axially projecting, rounded portion thatextends from the first end 122 towards the filter media 120 (or firstendplate 116). Beneficially, this prevents the inlet flow of fuel fromhaving direct contact with the filter media 120 and reduces thepossibility of damage or bunching of the media pleats in the location.Instead, the baffle 136 acts as a buffer of the incoming fuel from theinlet 110 causing it to radially disperse and travel through the filtermedia 120. As discussed above, the filter element 102 will have the sameorientation when installed into the housing 104 dependent upon thelocation of the drain plug 126. Thus, the baffle 136 has a “known”location and is disposed along the perimeter of the second endplate 118in a location that will always place the baffle 136 between the filtermedia 120 and inlet 110. Accordingly, and as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B,the baffle 136 only extends around a portion of the perimeter of thesecond endplate 118 and is adjacent the inlet 110 and disposed betweenthe filter media 120 and inlet 110. In other words, the baffle 136 doesnot extend all the way around the perimeter of the second endplate 118(e.g., a complete ring) and is limited to the portion of the secondendplate 118 that is adjacent the inlet 110. Beneficially, the baffle136 is less resource intensive and is more amenable in the embeddingprocess compared to a complete ring baffle design, while leaving moresurface area of the filter media 120 exposed, thereby aiding filtrationefficiency.

The drain plug 126 is configured to be positioned along the diameter ofthe second endplate 118 at a location to engage a complementary drainopening 148 in the housing 104. The drain plug 126 includes a shaft 128with a v-shaped tip 130. A radial seal member 134 is disposed betweenthe shaft 128 and the v-shaped tip 130. In some embodiments, the shaft128 and the v-shaped tip 130 are formed as an integral unit with anindentation to receive the radial seal member 134. The radial sealmember 134 forms a seal between the drain plug 126 and the drain opening148. In some embodiments, the radial seal member 134 may be produced byan O-ring or other resilient seal. As will be appreciated, the smallsize of the radial seal member 134 limits the compression force (e.g.,installation force) of the filter element 102 and, beneficially, limitsthe compression force applied on the filter media 120 duringinstallation. In some embodiments, the radial seal member 134 isovermolded on the drain plug 126. In some embodiments, a fluidpassageway 132 runs through center of the drain plug 126.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the length 502 of the drain plug 126 isrelated to the length 504 of the threaded lid member 150 of the lid 106.In some embodiments, the length 502 of the drain plug 126 is much longerthan the length 504 of the threaded lid member 150 to ensure that thelid 106 is unable to properly engage the housing 104 unless the drainplug 126 is disposed within the drain opening 148. By having the drainplug 126 be longer than the connection surface between the lid 106 andhousing 104, it ensures that the filtration system 100 cannot beproperly sealed (e.g., lid 106 attached to the housing 104) unless thedrain plug 126 is properly disposed within the drain opening 148. Thisis because the filter element 102 will be “taller” by the length of thedrain plug 126, as the drain plug 126 is improperly engaging the secondhousing end 142 and increasing the overall length of the filter element102, thereby preventing proper engagement of the lid 106 and the housing104. Once the drain plug 126 is disposed within the drain opening 148,the drain plug 126 no longer keeps the filter element 102 from beingdisposed within the housing 104 and, in turn, the drain plug 126 nolonger prevents the lid 106 from fully engaging the housing 104. Inother words, the poke yoke on the filter element 102 is achieved in partdue to the length 502 of the drain plug 126 being much greater than thelength 504 of the threaded lid member 150 of the lid 106, as the greaterlength ensures that the drain plug 126 must be disposed within the drainopening 148 (and therefore no longer a substantial (or any) factor inextending the height of the filter element 102) before the lid 106 canbe installed. In some embodiments, the length 502 of the drain plug 126is 43 mm and the length 504 of the threaded lid member 150 is 4 mm andhas a 9,5 pitch.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show different placements of the drain plug 126 alongthe diameter of the second endplate 118. The filter element 602 of FIG.6A has the drain plug 126 at a length 604 that is at a diameter of 90mm, or 45 mm from the center, of the second endplate 118. The filterelement 606 of FIG. 6B has the drain plug 126 at a length 608 that is ata diameter of 100 mm, or 50 mm from the center, of the second endplate118. As shown in FIG. 7, if the filter element 602 is installed into ahousing 104 that is keyed to the larger diameter location filter element606, then the filter element 606 will not enter the drain opening 148.Specifically, an interference zone 720 occurs with the drain plug 126and the second housing end 142. Consequently, the threaded lid member150 of the lid 106 is unable to engage the threaded housing member 146and the standpipe 706 is unable to engage the filter element 602.

Turning to FIG. 8, a method 800 of installing a filter element with adrain plug into a housing with a complementary drain opening isprovided. The filter element may be the filter element 102 of FIGS. 1-5Bor filter element 602 of FIGS. 6A-6B, and the housing may be the housing104 of FIGS. 1-6B. Generally, the method 800 of installation includes adrain plug on the filter element positioned to plug a drain opening inthe housing when the filter element is properly installed. Beneficially,the rotational position of the filter element is fixed when the drainplug is positioned within the drain opening, allowing for thepositioning of a smaller baffle (that does not extend completely aroundthe circumference of the filter media) in order to prevent the inletflow of the filtration system from directly impacting the pleats of thefilter media. Additionally, the drain plug has a minimum specifiedlength, such that a lid (e.g., cover) of the filter housing cannot beproperly installed unless the drain plug is correctly positioned withinthe drain opening. Further, the filter element and hosing do not includeany type of ramping surface to facilitate installation, instead relyingon the respective positions of the drain plug and the drain opening.

At 810, a housing is provided. The housing includes a first housing end,a second housing end, and a housing opening between the first housingend and the second housing end. The second housing end defines a drainopening. The second housing end is substantially flat (e.g., does notinclude a ramp poke yoke feature). The housing may also include an inletand an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with an outside of afilter element, and the outlet is in fluid communication with a centralopening of a filter element.

At 820, a filter element is provided. The filter element includes afirst endplate and a second endplate defining an endplate opening.Filter media is positioned between and extending axially between thefirst endplate and the second endplate. The filter media defines acentral opening extending axially therein. A drain plug axiallyprotrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from the filtermedia. The second endplate is substantially flat (e.g., does not includea ramp poke yoke feature). The filter element may include a baffle onthe second endplate. The baffle protrudes axially from the secondendplate towards the first endplate and the baffle extends radiallyaround a portion of a perimeter of the second endplate. The baffle onlyextends around a portion of the perimeter of the second endplate.

At 830, the filter element is placed within that housing opening of thehousing. As will be appreciated, if the drain plug is not aligned withthe drain opening, the filter element will protrude from the housing andwill be misaligned (e.g., improperly installed). At 840, the drain plugis aligned with the drain opening. This alignment includes physicallyrotating either manually or otherwise, the filter element until theprotruding drain plug comes in contact with the drain opening. Dependingon the pressure applied to the filter element, at first contact thedrain plug may begin to partially enter the drain opening.

At 850, the drain plug is inserted within the drain opening such thatthe filter element is fully disposed and installed within the housing.Upon installation, the baffle is disposed adjacent to the inlet and thebaffle is disposed between the inlet and the filter media. Beneficially,the baffle prevents the inlet flow of fuel from having direct contactwith the filter media and reduces the possibility of damage or bunchingof the media pleats in the location. Additionally, the baffle leavesmore surface area of the filter media exposed, compared to a full orhalf ring baffle, thereby aiding filtration efficiency.

At 860, a lid is fastened to the first housing end. The lid includes athreaded lid member configured to engage a complementary threadedhousing member on the first housing end. The engagement of the threadedlid member and the threaded housing member occurs if the drain plug isfully disposed within the drain opening. The engagement of the lid andthe first housing end is prevented from occurring when the filterelement is positioned within the housing but the drain plug is notdisposed within the drain opening. As will be appreciated, due to thelength of the drain plug, if the drain plug is not properly disposed inthe drain opening, the filter element will be separated from the housingby a distance equal to the drain plug.

It should be noted that any use of the term “example” herein to describevarious embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments arepossible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possibleembodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that suchembodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled” and the like as used herein mean the joining of twomembers directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may bestationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable orreleasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

As used herein, the term “substantially” means plus or minus 10% of anyassociated value or range of values.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation ofvarious elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientationof various elements may differ according to other example embodiments,and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the presentdisclosure.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of thevarious example embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a fewembodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Forexample, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed ofmultiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements orpositions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any processor method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternativeembodiments. Additionally, features from particular embodiments may becombined with features from other embodiments as would be understood byone of ordinary skill in the art. Other substitutions, modifications,changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operatingconditions and arrangement of the various example embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter element comprising: a first endplate; asecond endplate; a filter media extending axially between the firstendplate and the second endplate; and a drain plug axially protrudingfrom one of the first endplate or the second endplate in a directionaway from the filter media, the drain plug configured to engage a drainopening of a housing and facilitate installation of the filter elementinto the housing.
 2. The filter element of claim 1, further comprising:a baffle protruding axially from one of the first endplate or the secondendplate towards the filter media, the baffle extending radially aroundat least a portion of a perimeter of the second endplate.
 3. The filterelement of claim 2, wherein each of the drain plug and the baffle arelocated on the same one of the first end plate or the second plate. 4.The filter element of claim 2, wherein the filter media defines acentral opening extending axially therethrough.
 5. The filter element ofclaim 4, wherein an outside of the filter element is configured to be influid communication with an inlet of the housing and the central openingof the filter media is configured to be in fluid communication with anoutlet of the housing when the filter element is installed within thehousing, and wherein the installation of the drain plug into the drainopening causes the baffle to be adjacent to the inlet such that thebaffle is disposed between the inlet and the filter media.
 6. The filterelement of claim 1, wherein the drain plug comprises a shaft and av-shaped tip.
 7. The filter element of claim 6, further comprising: aseal member disposed between the shaft and v-shaped tip, the seal memberconfigured to sealingly engage the drain opening.
 8. The filter elementof claim 7, wherein the seal member is a radial seal member overmoldedon the drain plug.
 9. The filter element of claim 1, wherein the drainplug is disposed at a distance between 40 and 50 mm from a center of thecentral opening and the drain opening is disposed at an identicaldistance from the center of the central opening.
 10. The filter elementof claim 1, wherein second endplate is substantially flat.
 11. Afiltration system, comprising: a housing defining a drain opening; afilter element positioned within the housing, the filter elementcomprising: a first endplate, a second endplate, a filter mediaextending axially between the first endplate and the second endplate,and a drain plug axially protruding from one of the first endplate orthe second endplate in a direction away from the filter media, the drainplug configured to engage the drain opening, and a baffle protrudingaxially from one of the first endplate or the second endplate towardsthe filter media, the baffle extending radially around at least aportion of a perimeter of the second endplate.
 12. The filtration systemof claim 11, wherein the drain plug facilitates installation of thedrain plug into the housing.
 13. The filtration system of claim 11,wherein each of the drain plug and the baffle are located on the sameone of the first end plate or the second plate.
 14. The filtrationsystem of claim 11, wherein: the filter media defines a central opening,the housing further comprises an inlet and an outlet, the inlet in fluidcommunication with an outside of the filter element and the outlet influid communication with the central opening of the filter media, andthe installation of the drain plug into the drain opening causes thebaffle to be adjacent to the inlet such that the baffle is disposedbetween the inlet and the filter media.
 15. The filtration system ofclaim 14, wherein the portion around a perimeter of the first endplateof the second endplate that the baffle extends radially has a length atleast equal to an inlet diameter of the inlet, and wherein the length isno greater than half the perimeter of the second endplate.
 16. Thefiltration system of claim 11, wherein the lid comprises a threaded lidmember configured to engage a complementary threaded housing member onthe first housing end.
 17. The filtration system of claim 16, whereinthe threaded lid member has a first length and wherein the drain plughas a second length, the second length greater than the first length.18. The filtration system of claim 11, wherein the drain plug comprisesa shaft, a v-shaped tip, and a seal member disposed between the shaftand v-shaped tip, the seal member configured to sealingly engage thedrain opening.
 19. The filtration system of claim 18, wherein the sealmember is a radial seal member overmolded on the drain plug.
 20. Thefiltration system of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises adrain and wherein the drain plug further comprises a fluid passagewaytherethrough, the fluid passageway in fluid communication with thefilter media and a drain.